Agora

(2009)
Apparently based on real events, Agora is a sweeping historical film that attempts to tell a dramatic story while also offering up social commentary and arguments yet relevant to our current situation. Set in the city of Alexandria in the late 4th century AD, the story opens with one Hypatia (Rachel Weisz), a teacher of philosophy, leading a class about science and learning with several pupils and her slave, Davus (Max Minghella). Alexandrias Christians, or at least their more radical elements, now legally recognized by the Empire, are stirring up trouble with the pagans, which, at least officially, Hypatia and her father, a leading noble of the city, are. When one Ammonius (Ashraf Barhom) is able to push the more militant Christians toward revolt, a riot ensues, with the pagans taking refuge in the temple of Serapis, which was formerly one of the smaller libraries of Alexandria (the great one having been burned down long ago). Petitions to the Emperor allow the pagans to go free, but give the Christians free run of the city, so Hypatia and her fellow pagans must flee the city. Fast-forward to years later, and one of her pupils, Orestes (Oscar Isaac) is now the leading Roman authority in the city. His rival is the Christian Bishop Cyril (Sami Samir), who is staunchly pro-Chrtistian and anti-pagan; Cyril attempts to usurp the real power in the city from Orestes, but when the prelate proves an able foil, Cyril strikes at Orestes through his one great weakness, namely, Hypatia, whom the man has always loved. Yes, theres some romance and drama in all this revolt, but theres a lot more theology and science; Hypatia spends much of the movie trying to figure out the motions of the earth and the planets in the solar system, and unsubtly stands for logic and reason in the movie. Both Davus and Orestes are in love with her, but that love does not stop Davus from becoming Christian or Orestes from coming to power. Davus eventually joins a militant sect of the Christians, following Ammonius, and the movie, after about forty minutes, settles comfortably into a faith vs. reason argument, with Hypatia at one extreme end and Cyril at the other. Its a well-made, interesting, and engaging film theres a fair amount of tension between the characters, and they are all complex and very human (well, Hypatia can be a little too good to be true at times). The attention to detail is impressive, and I was blown away by the sets, the grand sweep, the costumes, and all of the setting the production design does a great job of taking you back to the period in question (even if the arresting satellite shots used to illustrate Hypatias mathematical dilemmas keep wrenching you out of it); in fact, theres a great deal to recommend Agora, except for two things: one (as I found out from reading some exceptionally and unusually intelligent commentary on the IMDB), many of the interpersonal details are historical hogwash, and two, the film is relentlessly antireligious. I dont have a problem with the second drawback (I dont even really have that much of a problem with the first, as the story is so well told), but this movie crosses the line from being anti-fundamentalist which is fine and laudable, as fundamentalism is scary - to being anti-any religion at all. Theres a point to be made about people adhering to faith in the face of reason, and I think its a crucially

important point to be talking about in our country today, where the badge of ignorance is confused with and worn as a badge of honor by those who foolishly value faith above reason (faith without reason is fantasy; reason without faith is merely cold); but to paint anyone religious with so broad a stripe ultimately is a disservice to the very point the film strives earnestly to make. Agora is an engrossing story, and her main characters are all very well sketched and acted (I particularly enjoyed Isaacs turn as Orestes), but her politics take possession of the story about midway through, ratcheting up in intensity as the movie proceeds. Im intrigued, and saddened, by the reason vs. faith debate going on in America today, and while its obvious which side I am on, on a certain level I am dismayed that the two very worthwhile traits cannot coexist. The movie takes the same side as I do, when I am forced to choose, but even though I am ostensibly the choir to which it is preaching, I would have preferred a less heavy-handed approach (it almost needs a subtitle, Agora brought to you by Atheists International). I enjoyed both the story and the social discussion it attempts to address and I agree with the film on the broader points but I wish that the socio-political matter had been handled with anywhere near the skill the drama was. What could have been a great film with a great message is instead merely a good film with a salient message heavily pushed on the audience. Its still a good film and worth watching (and its a hundred times more intelligent then Gladiator, but then so is your average field mouse), just, guys, next time, use the pillow instead of the hammer. April 17, 2011